In short: since October 1, 2026, the rovinieta (Romanian road vignette) fine has been between two and four times the price of a 12-month rovinieta (Law no. 226/2023, art. 18), for example 660 – 1,320 lei for a Euro 0–3 car, and the simplest way to avoid it is to buy a valid rovinieta before you hit the road. Until September 30, 2026, the fines under OG 15/2002, as amended by OG 23/2025, applied (from 500 – 1,000 lei for cars to 14,250 – 28,500 lei for heavy trucks); the ordinance has been repealed, and trucks over 3.5 tons now pay TollRo.
If you were caught without a rovinieta or just want to know what amounts you could face, this article covers the fines by category, how and where to pay the fine, the grace period for vehicles registered in Romania and how to check for free whether you have a valid rovinieta. We also briefly cover vignette fines in Bulgaria and Hungary.
How much is the rovinieta fine in 2026?
Since October 1, 2026, the fine for driving without a valid rovinieta has been between two and four times the price of a 12-month rovinieta (Law no. 226/2023, art. 18), adjusted annually for inflation. So it depends on the vehicle category and the Euro class. Until September 30, 2026, the fines applied were those under OG 15/2002, updated by OG 23/2025 (for cars from September 1, 2025, and for transport vehicles from September 8, 2025); OG 15/2002 was repealed as of October 1, 2026 (Law no. 226/2023, art. 24).
The 2026 rovinieta fine is not a fixed amount: the law sets a minimum and a maximum for each category, and the officer issuing the ticket sets the amount within this range. Here are the values in force since October 1, 2026 (lei, minimum–maximum), calculated from the rates approved by OMTI 888/2026:
| Category | Vehicle type | Electric | Euro 6 | Euro 4 – Euro 5 | Euro 0 – Euro 3 |
| A | Cars | 456–912 | 508–1.016 | 584–1.168 | 660–1.320 |
| B | Freight, MTMA ≤ 3.5 t | 1.042–2.084 | 1.158–2.316 | 1.330–2.660 | 1.504–3.008 |
| C | Minibuses (10 – 23 seats, including the driver) | 4.942–9.884 | 5.492–10.984 | 6.314–12.628 | 7.138–14.276 |
| D | Coaches (over 23 seats) | 8.652–17.304 | 9.614–19.228 | 11.056–22.112 | 12.498–24.996 |
For comparison, the values applied until September 30, 2026, under OG 15/2002 (the old classification, with truck categories C–F):
| Vehicle category (until 9/30/2026) | Vehicle type | Minimum fine (lei) | Maximum fine (lei) |
| A | Cars | 500 | 1.000 |
| B | Freight, MTMA ≤ 3.5 t | 1.140 | 2.280 |
| C | Freight, 3.5 – 7.5 t | 3.800 | 7.600 |
| D | Freight, 7.5 – 12 t | 6.650 | 13.300 |
| E | Freight, ≥ 12 t, maximum 3 axles | 8.550 | 17.100 |
| F | Freight, ≥ 12 t, minimum 4 axles | 14.250 | 28.500 |
| G | Passenger transport, 9 – 23 seats | 3.800 | 7.600 |
| H | Passenger transport, over 23 seats | 6.650 | 13.300 |
In practice, the more expensive a vehicle’s rovinieta, the higher the 2026 rovinieta fine. For comparison, an annual rovinieta costs half the minimum fine, which is why paying for the rovinieta on time is always the cheaper option. See all rovinieta rates by category to calculate your real cost.
How much is the rovinieta fine for category B (passenger cars)?
For cars, since October 1, 2026, the fine has been between 456 and 1,320 lei, depending on the Euro class: 660–1,320 lei for Euro 0–3, 584–1,168 lei for Euro 4–5, 508–1,016 lei for Euro 6 and 456–912 lei for electric cars (until September 30, 2026: 500–1,000 lei). Watch the terminology: in everyday language, category “B” is often confused with the category B driver’s license. For the rovinieta, cars belong to category A, while category B in the rovinieta classification refers to freight vehicles of up to 3.5 tons. Whatever the name, for a regular car the fine starts at twice the price of a 12-month rovinieta.
How much is the rovinieta fine for a truck in 2026?
Since October 1, 2026, trucks over 3.5 tons no longer have a rovinieta, and therefore no rovinieta fine: they pay TollRo. Until September 30, 2026, the rovinieta fine for trucks ranged from 3,800 lei (freight 3.5 – 7.5 t) to 28,500 lei (freight over 12 tons, with at least 4 axles); a tractor unit with a semi-trailer (TIR) generally fell into category F (14,250 – 28,500 lei). For freight vehicles of up to 3.5 tons (category B), the fine is now 1,042–3,008 lei, depending on the Euro class.
Important for hauliers: from October 1, 2026, freight vehicles over 3.5 tons no longer pay the rovinieta but the new per-kilometer toll TollRo. Note: rovinietas already bought for these vehicles are no longer valid from October 1, 2026, even if they were paid for a longer period; the value of the unused period is refunded only on request, through the refund app that CNAIR (Romanian road infrastructure company) will make available by December 29, 2026, as we explain in rovinieta refund guide. For trucks, driving without payment is now penalized under the TollRo system, under different rules than for the rovinieta: the toll is owed first, and the fine (10 to 20 times the toll due or 5,000 lei) applies only if the toll is not paid on time. Fines apply from October 1, 2026. A bill that would suspend fines until March 31, 2027 was submitted to the Senate but has not been adopted. You are not penalized if you could not pay because of a TollRo platform malfunction (art. 9 para. (4) of the implementing rules), provided that before departure you tried to create an account, enroll the vehicle and pay: attempts are logged by the system (CNAIR press release of October 6, 2026). Cars, minibuses, coaches and freight vehicles of up to 3.5 tons remain under the rovinieta.
The compensation fee no longer applies since October 1, 2026
Until September 30, 2026, in addition to the administrative fine, anyone caught without a valid rovinieta also owed a compensation fee, set out in the annex to OG 15/2002. Since October 1, 2026, OG 15/2002 has been repealed, and Law no. 226/2023 no longer provides for a compensation fee for the rovinieta: a missing rovinieta is penalized with a fine (art. 18).
How to pay the rovinieta fine in 2026
An important advantage: if you pay the fine within 15 calendar days of being served the violation report, you pay half the minimum set by law. For example, for a Euro 0–3 car, instead of 660 lei you pay only 330 lei. The reduction applies to the minimum fine for your vehicle (OG 2/2001, applicable through art. 20 of Law no. 226/2023).
Payment is made to the local budget (for individuals) or to the state budget (for legal entities). Specifically, the fine can be paid as follows:
- Individuals: at city hall cashier offices, at credit institutions with which agreements are in place, or online via the Ghișeul.ro.
- Legal entities: at State Treasury units or by transfer to the IBAN account provided by ANAF (Romanian tax authority).
After payment, it is recommended to send CESTRIN (the Romanian road technical studies and IT center) a copy of the document proving payment of the fine, by mail, e-mail (info.rovinieta@cestrin.ro) or directly at the office. A violation report (proces-verbal) drawn up based on cameras on national roads is communicated within two months at most; until then, no other violation report can be issued for a missing rovinieta for the same vehicle (Law no. 226/2023, art. 18).
How to avoid the rovinieta fine in 2026
The safest approach is still to always have a valid rovinieta. It is mandatory on highways, expressways and all national roads, except for national road sections within city limits – see in detail which roads require a rovinieta. You can buy it quickly:
- Online, on the official portal etoll.ro or in the TollRo app;
- By SMS, to the number 7500;
- In person, at CNAIR-authorized distributors, at CNAIR points of sale and at border crossing points.
The 2026 grace period – forgot your rovinieta?
Good news for drivers: for vehicles registered in Romania there is a grace period (Law no. 226/2023, art. 5). If you drove without a rovinieta, you are not penalized provided you pay for a valid rovinieta for the day you drove by the end of the following day at the latest. After this deadline, the fine can no longer be avoided by buying the rovinieta afterward. In practice, if you realize in time that you forgot, you still have a chance to avoid the fine.
How to check if you have a valid rovinieta
You can check the validity of your rovinieta for free on the official portal etoll.ro (Rovinieta Check) or in the TollRo app. You will need:
- the vehicle's license plate number;
- the chassis number (VIN), listed on the registration certificate / vehicle identity card;
- the verification code generated by the platform.
For transport fleets, GPS monitoring and automated road toll payments considerably reduce the risk of being left without a valid rovinieta or vignettes on international routes.
Vignette fines in Bulgaria and Hungary (in brief)
Bulgaria vignette fine
In Bulgaria, driving without a valid e-vignette carries a penalty. For cars, the usual amount is around 150 euros, with the option of paying a reduced compensatory fee directly to mobile patrols, at border points or online. A missing vignette is detected automatically by fixed cameras and mobile patrols BGTOLL. Amounts may vary, so check the up-to-date details in our guide on Bulgaria vignette.
Hungary vignette fine
In Hungary, the e-matrica system works with a “pótdíj” – a surcharge levied instead of a conventional fine when you drive without a valid vignette. The amount is lower if paid quickly (within the first few days) and increases substantially if it is not paid on time. The amount is set in forints and varies, which is why we recommend checking the up-to-date information in the guide on the Hungary vignette. For trucks over 3.5 tons, the HU-GO per-kilometer toll system applies.
If you frequently drive abroad, you can automate road toll payments and avoid fines. See also where to pay traffic fines received abroad.
Need a GPS monitoring and automatic toll payment solution for your fleet? The CargoTrack team helps you avoid fines on national and international routes. Contact us for a personalized quote.
Frequently asked questions about the 2026 rovinieta fine
How much is the rovinieta fine in 2026?
Since October 1, 2026, the rovinieta fine has been between two and four times the price of a 12-month rovinieta (Law no. 226/2023, art. 18): for example, 660 – 1,320 lei for a Euro 0–3 car, 1,504 – 3,008 lei for a Euro 0–3 freight vehicle of up to 3.5 tons and 12,498 – 24,996 lei for a Euro 0–3 coach. Until September 30, 2026, fines ranged from 500 – 1,000 lei for cars to 14,250 – 28,500 lei for heavy trucks (OG 15/2002, as amended by OG 23/2025).
How much is the rovinieta fine for a passenger car (category B)?
For a car, since October 1, 2026, the fine has been between 456 and 1,320 lei, depending on the Euro class (660 – 1,320 lei for Euro 0–3). Cars belong to rovinieta category A; category B refers to freight vehicles of up to 3.5 tons, for which the fine is 1,042 – 3,008 lei, depending on the Euro class.
How much is the rovinieta fine for a truck in 2026?
Since October 1, 2026, trucks over 3.5 tons no longer have a rovinieta but pay TollRo, so they no longer receive a rovinieta fine. Until September 30, 2026, the fine ranged from 3,800 lei (freight 3.5 – 7.5 t) to 28,500 lei (freight over 12 tons, at least 4 axles). Under TollRo, non-payment is penalized with a fine of 10 to 20 times the toll due or 5,000 lei, only if the toll is not paid on time.
Can the rovinieta fine be paid at half the amount?
Yes. If you pay within 15 calendar days of receiving the violation report, you pay half the legal minimum fine for your vehicle (for example, 330 lei instead of 660 lei for a Euro 0–3 car).
How is the rovinieta fine paid?
Individuals pay at city hall cashier offices, at partner banks or online on Ghișeul.ro, and legal entities at the State Treasury or via the ANAF IBAN. It is recommended to send proof of payment to CESTRIN.
How do I avoid the fine if I forgot to buy the rovinieta?
For vehicles registered in Romania there is a grace period: if you drove without a rovinieta, you are not fined if you pay for a valid rovinieta for that day by the end of the following day at the latest. After this deadline, the fine can no longer be avoided.
How do I check whether I have a valid rovinieta?
You can check for free on etoll.ro (Rovinieta Check) or in the TollRo app by entering the license plate number, the chassis number from the registration certificate and the verification code generated by the platform.
Do trucks still pay the rovinieta in 2026?
Not from October 1, 2026. From this date, freight vehicles over 3.5 tons switch to the TollRo per-kilometer toll, which replaces the rovinieta for trucks. For trucks, rovinietas already bought are no longer valid from October 1, 2026, even if they were paid for a longer period. For passenger cars, minibuses, coaches and freight vehicles up to 3.5 tons, the rovinieta remains valid until the date shown on it.
